NASA’s Ingenuity mini helicopter survived the first night alone on the cold surface of Mars, according to the US space agency. hailing him as “an important milestone” for the small boat preparing for its first flight.
The ultralight aircraft launched to the surface on Saturday after detaching from the belly of the Perseverance rover, which touched the red planet on 18 February.
Detached from Perseverance, Ingenuity had to rely on its own solar-powered battery to power a vital heater to protect unarmored electrical components from freezing and cracking during the bitter Martian night, where temperatures can fall to less than 130 degrees.
Doing so through the cold Martian night was “an important milestone for small aircraft,” NASA said in a statement Monday.
“This is the first time Ingenuity has been alone on the surface of Mars,” said MiMi Aung, project manager of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Propulsion Laboratory.
“But now we have confirmation that we have the right insulation, the right heaters and enough energy in the battery to survive the cold night, which is a big win for the team. We are delighted to continue preparing the wit for your first flight test. “
Over the next few days, Ingenuity will undergo testing of its blades and rotor motors.
If all goes well, Ingenuity is expected to make its first flight attempt no earlier than the night of April 11, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory said.
It will be the first plane to attempt a controlled, motorized flight to another planet.